Culture

51 Top Romantic Movies for a Loved-Up Date Night in 2025

by: Kristy Bowen

Published on Jan 24th 2025

Time to grab that popcorn, thick blanket and your lover because you're about to watch a marathon of the most romantic movies ever filmed. This list of the most romantic movies is especially relevant for cozy indoor date ideas, slow anniversaries and, of course, a loved-up Valentine's Day.

Start with black and white classics, then move on to twentieth-century Hollywood blockbusters and finish with tales of modern love that include the greatest contemporary actors of our time. This list of the greatest romantic movies will be a perfect addition to your stay home date ideas or Valentine's Day date ideas. Take your cinephile lover to a screen revival of one of these classics for one of the top Valentine's Day gift ideas.

Classic Romantic Movies

1. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

This 1980s rom-com is often the first classic romantic movie on many people’s list. It’s often rewatched year after year for its cozy tale of friends turned lovers, played expertly by Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. The naturalistic acting in this romantic comedy includes a heightened sense of timing, wit, and charm, and the story spans through the ages.

2. Casablanca (1942)

This black-and-white classic romantic movie stars screen legends Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman as old lovers who reconnect amid the turmoil of war after many years apart. The two characters briefly rekindle their flame despite Bergman's marriage to another man and a world that seems to want to keep them apart. You'll find classic quotes like, "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine," "Here's looking at you, kid," "We will always have Paris" and "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

3. Say Anything (1989)

John Cusack and Ione Skye star in this late 1980s teen rom-com from legendary director Cameron Crowe. Upon graduation, the seemingly mismatched couple date briefly before real life causes friction as they struggle to launch themselves into adulthood and deal with family issues and betrayal. Watch out for the infamous boombox scene where Cusack's trenchcoat-clad character blasts Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" while holding a boombox atop his head.

4. Beauty and the Beast (1946)

A classic French film drawn from the famous 1757 story by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, a beautiful girl becomes the prisoner of a mysterious beast. While it's a story that has been given many film treatments throughout the years, including the famous Disney animated and live-action films, this stunning version is both romantic and visually appealing. It's directed by French poet and artist Jean Cocteau, so it's great for more artistically-inclined couples.

5. Funny Face (1957)

While Audrey Hepburn could be called the queen of mid-century American romantic films with delights like Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, this film, set in Paris, is especially romantic. It stars Fred Astaire as a photographer who photographs a hapless Hepburn — a shy bookstore employee — and launches her into a modeling career before the two ultimately fall in love.

6. You’ve Got Mail (1998)

Another 90s rom-com starring America's darling Meg Ryan, You've Got Mail is a story of perception, deception and love. Ryan plays an indie bookstore owner fighting to save her small bookshop from a big bookstore conglomerate. That conglomerate happens to be owned by Tom Hanks' character, who she has, unbeknownst to both of them, been corresponding with via the early days of email. It's a rewind into pre-social media correspondence when love grew slowly and strongly.

7. Gone With the Wind (1939)

This long and epic film based on Margaret Mitchell’s famous Civil War-era novel deals with political and weighty subject matter, including the hardships of the Civil War and the recovering South. The core romance, between Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) and the roguish Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) is legendary for both its passion and cruelty. It's also littered with quotes, the most famous being, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." Be sure to take some time out of your day for this marathon of a movie as it runs 238 minutes (with overture, intermission, entr'acte, and exit music). That's four entire hours, making it the 6th longest Hollywood film ever made!

8. From Here to Eternity (1953)

Perhaps known best for its scene of a couple kissing on a sea-swept beach, this film takes place during WWII just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The plot is centered around a soldier-turned-boxer played by Montgomery Clift, but It's the steamy forbidden romance between Burt Lancaster and Decorah Kerr’s characters that steals the show as a sergeant and his captain’s unhappy wife.

9. Wuthering Heights (1939)

Based on the famous novel by Emily Bronte, this movie details the doomed love between residents of a British manor on the moors, including the brooding Heathcliff and his love, Catherine, the daughter of his ward. Their tortured and ethereal connection to each other transcends both time and death. This is one of the most introspective romantic movies for existential couples who want to ask deep questions.

10. Pride and Prejudice (2005)

While Jane Austen is known more for her staid propriety than unbridled passion, this classic adaptation of Austen's 1813 novel is a favorite among the many romantic movies. This modern version stars Matthew MacFeydan and Kiera Knightly as the bristling Mr. Darcy and the practically minded Elizabeth Bennet.

11. Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Based on both the life and work of one of the world's most famous playwrights, this romantic jaunt stars Ralph Fiennes as the bard himself wooing Viola de Lesseps, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. It takes place when Shakespeare was in the midst of writing Romeo and Juliet, one of his most famous doomed love stories ever created. Pair this with Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet for a full night of Shakespeare seen from different perspectives.

12. The Goodbye Girl (1977)

Based on a play by Neal Simon and set in New York, a single mother played by Marsha Mason, winds up in an unwanted living situation with an actor portrayed by Richard Dreyfuss. Despite their incompatibility, the two become friends before eventually falling in love.

13. Titanic (1997)

One of the most famous movies of all time, not just in the category of romantic movies is James Cameron’s epic masterpiece, Titanic. It blends historical tragedy with a sweeping love story between stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. It's a star-crossed love story between free-spirited Jack and wealthy socialite, Rose as they put down their guards and explore the true meaning of love. Known for its stunning visuals, heartfelt performances and unforgettable score, Titanic became the highest-grossing romantic movie of all time. Soar with Jack and Rose at the top of the ship and sink to the depths of love's sweet loss — all to Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On.

Romantic Hollywood Movies

14. La La Land (2016)

Set amid the bustle of Hollywood, this one of the most fun, creative and highly enjoyable Hollywood romantic movies. It's a musical depicting the meeting of two characters living in the shadow of the Hollywood sign. La La Land won many awards when it was released and stars bubbly Emma Stone and jazzy Ryan Gosling as its romantic leads.

15. Notting Hill (1995)

While set in London rather than Hollywood, this fun 90s rom-com features a Hollywood actress played aptly by Julia Roberts who falls in love with an awkward British bookstore owner played by Hugh Grant. The two battle the friction of the film industry and public opinion to get to a romantically-charge happily ever after. The film is packed with awkwardly romantic moments from Grant's on-the-fly Horse-and-House enthusiast journalism to his particularly hilarious roommate played by the talented Rhys Ifans.

16. The Fall Guy (2024)

A recent entry into the romantic movies that flood Hollywood. Ryan Gosling plays an experienced stuntman who was once entangled in a relationship with Emily Blunt. After many years of separation after a tragic stunt accident, she unknowingly winds up casting him in her newest action film. The two reconnect and spark romance once again, amid many jabs and late-night car crying sessions to Taylor Swift.

17. A Star is Born (1976)

With many adaptations, this is considered one the best tragically romantic movies. You can choose between one starring Judy Garland and James Mason, and another more recent version with Lady Gaga and starring and directed by Bradley Cooper. But we would recommend the 1970s retelling starring Kris Kristofferson and Barbara Streisand as a pair of performers who meet and struggle through alcoholism and fame. Just like "Shallow" from the 2018 version, their are also a number of great musical acts and award-winning performances in this romantic Hollywood movie.

Romantic Movies on Netflix

18. Lady Chatterley's Lover (2022)

One of the most famous forbidden love stories in English literature, this adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's famous novel is both wistful and steamy. It involves a wife who has become estranged from her husband after his war injury and falls into a doomed love affair with a gamekeeper working for the family.

19. Persuasion (2022)

This tale of rekindled romance is based on Jane Austen’s lesser-known 1817 novel. This Netflix Original adaptation stars Dakota Johnson of 50 Shades fame (more of a steamy flick than one of the romantic movies) as the lead character, Annie. She comes face to face with her past fiance amid the stifling parlors and riverside walks of 19th-century English life.

20. Carol (2015)

This film is a romantic and forbidden love story between two women in 1950s conservative New York. The cast is led by Cate Blanchette, as an older woman going through a divorce and Rooney Mara, the younger woman she falls in love with. It's one of the top romantic movies on this list with LGBTQIA+ themes.

21. Idea of You (2024)

This recent romantic movie on Netflix pairs a 40-something divorcee played by Anne Hathway with a younger pop star, played by Nicholas Galitzine, as they navigate the problems of an age gap relationship amid his fame and her troubled relationship with her daughter. I's a fun and mindless romp to pass a few love-filled hours alone or with your partner.

22. The Notebook (2004)

What's a good date night movie on Netflix? One of the most famous romantic movies of the past two decades and based on a bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks, this is a tale of romance through the years. It recounts the relationship between lovers, played by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, from very different backgrounds who struggle with the trajectory of their lives and public approval. Will they reunite and rekindle their romance? You'll have to watch one of the all-time top romantic movies to find out. Bring a box of tissues to this one.

23. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

This popular indie film from visionary director Michel Condry and inspired writer Charlie Kaufman is often included on lists of romantic movies for its realistic, albeit surreal, depiction of love and heartbreak. If you could erase the memories of past relationships and the heartbreak of the break-ups that ensued, would you? This film starring, Kate Winslet and a very serious and realistic Jim Carrey, answers this question. It leads in a non-linear storyline, typical of Kaufman (see "Adaptation"), that tugs at the heart.

24. Holidate (2020)

In a romantic movie on Netflix that takes place over the span of a year, the lead character, played by Emma Roberts agrees to a recurring schedule of holiday dates with a handsome, but seemingly incompatible, professional golfer played by Luke Bracey. The couple, of course, falls in love eventually, despite their plot to keep each other at a distance. It's a purely popcorn-and-chill movie to pass a few hours cuddled up in your overly large blanky.

25. Anyone But You (2023)

Based loosely on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, this enemies-to-lovers romantic movie starts out with a few meaningful hours spent together followed by lots of failures and misunderstandings — and a whole lot of eye-candy. When the couple, played by beautiful people Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, meets again at a wedding in paradise, the fires are rekindled and lots of comically barbed insults are volleyed in both directions.

26. The Last Letter From Your Lover (2021)

A woman, played by Shailene Woodley, wakes up with amnesia in the 1960s after an accident in London, finding a mysterious letter in her belongings between two separated lovers. As she investigates further, the secrets that led to her car crash are unveiled, as are a torrid affairs with another man.

27. Mr & Mrs Smith (2005)

Based on the 1950s Hitchcock film of the same name, this romantic movie tells the story of a married couple, played by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, harboring lots of sexy spy secrets. Time reveals the pair to be secret assassins sent by their bosses to kill each other. High action and sexual chemistry made this a comedic thrill ride. While the romance heats up on screen in one of the sexiest romantic movies, it's fun to know that an actual romance was brewing during filming.

28. Hit Man (2024)

A professor moonlighting as a clever faux assassin, portrayed by Glenn Powell, unwittingly falls into a criminal caper with beautiful and mysterious women and a real-life murder for hire in one of the most action-packed romantic movies.

29. Set it Up (2018)

Two overworked personal assistants, played by Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch, develop a caper to set up their horrible bosses to get some time off and fall in love as they struggle to make it happen.

Best Romantic Movies for Couples

30. Serendipity (2001)

A chance meeting in a New York department store right before Christmas leads to a brief encounter that takes years to reconnect. While each character, played by John Cusack and Kate Beckinsdale, live out their lives, they have only fleeting memories of what may have been a tragically missed connection.

31. Before Sunrise Trilogy (1995-2013)

1995’s indie hit Before Sunrise charted a couple, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who meet on a train and spend a romantic and meandering night in Vienna. The sequels to this movie, while the fate of the characters is left uncertain at the end of the first movies, plays out through a reconnection many years later, including the trials and tribulations of their eventual marriage. It's a triplet of films for couples who enjoy reality portrayed on screen and vast dialogue over mindless eye candy.

32. Love Actually (2023)

This large and notable cast of characters charts many different storylines during the holiday season in London, with lots of love stories all happening at once, loosely related to each other. It's definitely one of the top Christmas movies for kids and adults and includes tales of new love, old romantic obsessions (cue scene with cards on the streets stating "To me, you are perfect"), along with platonic affections (here's looking at you, Bill Nighy).

33. Love & Other Drugs (2010)

Anne Hathaway plays a woman with a degenerative illness who falls in love with a romantic bad-boy pharmacy rep turned good guy played by Jake Gyllenhaal in one of the wittiest romantic movies. A physical and intellectual strike sparks immediately, but the weight of his past and her uncertain future causes much romantic drama.

34. Tristan and Isolde (2005)

Based on the medieval legend, this is one of the epic romantic movies and involves a knight, played by James Franco, who, mistaken for dead, is set assail on a funeral pier only to land aground in nearby Ireland and fall in love with an unknown young woman, played by Sophia Myles. When he returns to his home, he is entrusted to win the hand of a maiden for his king and father figure, who tragically happens to be the same woman he fell in love with.

35. The Great Gatsby (1974)

Based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic novel, this one is perhaps more well known for the recent Baz Lurhman edition starring Leo DiCaprio, but the 1970s classic and award-winning film sets the bar high. It stars Robert Redford and Mia Farrow as the doomed pair of lovers who reunite in the lush and lavish world of Long Island socialites.

36. The Last Five Years (2014)

Told both backward and forward in structure, this romantic movie adaptation for couples, which is based on a Broadway hit, stars Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick as a couple who struggle to balance artistic achievement, survival and love in New York City. It's one of those classic NYC love stories and romantic films to watch to pass some time with your flame.

37. Waitress (2007)

A waitress, played by Keri Russell, suffers through an abusive marriage and dreams of opening her own pie shop. When she becomes pregnant, she accidentally falls in love with her obstetrician, played by Nathan Fillion in one of the top romantic movies that also deals with darker themes.

38. Blue Valentine (2010)

In one of the most heart-wrenching romantic movies for couples, a married pair, played by Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling, struggle to connect the romance of the past amid hectic and disconnected lives. This leads to uncovered secrets, revealed resentments and a struggle to remain together in the aftermath.

39. 50 First Dates (2004)

In one of the quirkiest romantic movies, typical of lead Adam Sandler, a man meets a charming girl, played by Drew Barrymore, who just happens to have her memory reset every 24 hours due to a brain injury. Sandler's character tries to connect with Barrymore, who mostly doesn’t remember him with each new meeting. While it's filled with usual Sandler tropes, the ultimate scene is quite heart-warming and endearing.

40. The Lake House (2006)

Told in dual timelines, Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves play an unsatisfied doctor escaping tragedy and an architect who builds his dream home made of glass on a picturesque lake. The two make a supernatural connection through letters placed in the house’s mailbox only to fall in love outside of linear time.

41. Made in Heaven (1987)

In another one of the romantic movies set after the Great War, Timothy Hutton plays a young GI after WWII who dies saving a child in a river and meets his soulmate in the afterworld played by Kelly MGgillis. This 80s romantic movie is a race against time, where the couple is separated after being sent back to earth, where the two grow up separately and must find each other by his 30th birthday.

Romantic Bollywood Movies

42. Raja Hindustani (1996)

Two people, played by Aamir Khan and Karishma Kapoor, from very different backgrounds, fall in love despite their parents' fervent objections. It's one of those typical romantic movies with themes of forbidden. Family members go to great lengths to separate them, after scheming with their own financial agendas regarding the woman’s inheritance.

43. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

College best friends played by Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol fail to realize their love until after he has already moved on and married in one of the most whimsically romantic Bollywood movies. When the man’s wife dies in pregnancy, the couple reconnects through a series of letters read to his young daughter, who plots to reunite her father with his old friend.

44. Kaho Naa….Pyaar Hai (2000)

An aspiring singer and auto salesman, played by Hrithik Roshan, falls in love with a rich young woman, portrayed by Ameesha Patel, while delivering a car on her birthday. They encounter each other again after a party when they are stranded on an island after their boat floats away. They discover they have more in common than they thought.

45. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

In this romantic Bollywood movie, a girl in an arranged marriage, portrayed by Kajol, embarks on a trip across Europe. She meets a flirtatious young man played by Shah Rukh Khan. After missing the train and the two potential lovers become stranded, they connect as they catch up with the group, but are thwarted by their parents’ well-wrought plans for their future.

Raunchy Romantic Movies

46. Sleeping With Other People (2015)

With one of the most irreverent romantic films, Alison Brie and Jason Sudeikis star as old friends from college who meet again as adults. While they decide to remain friends instead of lovers, their attraction and chemistry prove too strong as they struggle to keep things platonic.

47. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

In this raunchy romantic comedy, Steve Carrel plays a shy stock boy whose friends and coworkers chide him for his sexual inexperience at such an advanced age. They vow to help him find his first sexual experience and romance through a series of mishaps and dates that provide great comedy and commentary on the dating world. Ge ready squirm in one of the cringiest romantic movies from veteran comedian writer Judd Apatow, including an actual chest waxing with real reactions.

48. Knocked Up (2007)

A one-night stand leads to an inconvenient pregnancy and a new relationship for characters played by prim-and-proper Katharine Heigl and lackadaisical stoner Seth Rogan in this raunchy romantic movie, also from Judd Apatow. As the two navigate the very adult world they are entering with the birth of a child, the two go from frustrated animosity to true love.

49. Zack and Miri Make A Porno (2008)

Two childhood friends played by Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks lead this raunchy romp through the adult film industry, where the friends-to-lovers storyline plays out amid their fight to save their coffee shop by making a porno. This one comes from Mallrats and Clerks creator, Kevin Smith.

50. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

A score composer, played by Jason Segel, takes a romantic vacation, vowing to recuperate from the dissolution of his engagement to longtime love and titular character, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). He finds his ex vacationing with her new rockstar lover at the same resort. He strikes up a friendship with a hotel staff member played by Mila Kunis, who eventually helps heal his heart and move on in one of the funniest romantic movies.

51. Dirty Dancing

More steamy than raunchy, Dirty Dancing stars a charismatically sweaty Patrick Swayze and timid Jennifer Grey in a timeless tale of passion, self-discovery and forbidden love. As the romance bubbles up between the two characters, we see ourselves rooting for the couple, who break barriers and defy expectations. It's one of those classic 80s romantic movies that's underlined by an amazing score and theme song in "The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.

Romantic Movies FAQs

What Is the #1 Romantic Movie?

1942’s classic black-and-white Casablanca is often considered most people’s #1 romantic movie for its portrayal of lost romance and dramatic endings.

What Is the Highest-Grossing Romantic Movie of All Time?

1997’s Titanic, which tells the story of the doomed ship and two of its inhabitants, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, made 2.25 million at the box office upon its release and continues to make money via video and streaming rights more than two decades later.

What Is the Greatest Romance of All Time?

1939’s Gone With the Wind is often considered one of the greatest romantic movies of all time set amid the tumultuous Civil War era.

What Is the Most Beautiful Love Movie?

Jean Cocteau’s 1946 romantic movie adaptation of Beauty and the Beast is often considered one of the most lovely retellings of this popular story due to the film’s gorgeous set design and cinematography.

Grab some snacks and curl up with your love for a night with one or two of these romantic movies this winter to keep both of you warm and cozy as a perfect Valentine's Day idea or anniversary date idea.

For even more fun Valentine's gift ideas before slumping on the sofa, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!